Ostarine vs. RAD 140: Expert Compares Their Effects

Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) are investigational drugs. They stimulate androgen receptors to promote anabolism in the body (1). Due to tissue selectivity, they are designed to help subjects build muscle without the deleterious side effects of anabolic steroids. However, we have seen SARMs pose similar levels of toxicity.

Ostarine and RAD 140 are two commonly utilized SARMs, albeit with key differences.

Ostarine vs. RAD 140

Muscle Gains

Ostarine is considered a mild SARM, often taken by beginners who want to build up to 10 pounds of lean muscle while burning fat.

However, ostarine’s effects on women differ from men, with ostarine being a potent muscle-builder in females (who can gain over 15 lbs of lean body mass).

We have found RAD 140 to be a harsher SARM than ostarine, with RAD 140 often being utilized when bulking, with the common objective being to build significant amounts of muscle and strength. Users can expect to gain up to 14 pounds of lean muscle on RAD 140.

Strength

Ostarine significantly increases muscular strength, albeit not to the same degree as RAD 140.

In our experience, RAD 140 is one of the most potent SARMs for increasing strength, with only YK-11 or S23 being comparable.

RAD 140 even compares to some of the most potent AAS (anabolic-androgenic steroids) in this regard. We have had RAD 140 users report significant strength gains, such as adding 60 pounds to their bench press or 90 pounds to their leg press from a first cycle.

Fat Loss

There is a general consensus that ostarine is a more efficacious SARM when cutting due to its lipolytic (fat-burning) properties.

However, in practice, ostarine and RAD 140 will burn a similar amount of fat. The reason why ostarine users will appear leaner after a cycle is because RAD 140 users often adopt a high-calorie diet. Consequently, RAD 140 users are more susceptible to short-term water retention and bloating, which will obscure muscle definition during the cycle.

Ostarine vs. RAD 140: Negative Effects

1. HPTA impairment (testosterone suppression).
2. Cardiotoxicity (cholesterol alterations).
3. Hepatotoxicity (ALT and AST alterations).

RAD 140 is the more potent SARM, so it is likely to cause harsher side effects.

Testosterone Suppression

Many men and women on ostarine do not implement PCT (post-cycle therapy), as they do not typically experience hypogonadal symptoms.

However, individuals often administer PCT following RAD 140, as it is considered to be very suppressive.

We have experienced people being clinically diagnosed with hypogonadism from RAD 140 (with drops from 750 to 193 ng/dL) via a 12-week cycle.

Note: We are aware that a few ostarine users have reported total testosterone levels dropping by as much as 70%; thus, this SARM may be more suppressive than first thought (at least for some individuals).

• We find endogenous testosterone levels naturally recover several weeks post-cycle. If someone is clinically hypogonadal, this process may take 1-2 months.
• A post-cycle therapy consisting of Nolvadex or Clomid will aid in the restoration of the HPTA (hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis), shortening recovery time.

Cholesterol

Ostarine will decrease HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, causing a moderate increase in blood pressure.

In just 3 days, one of our patient’s systolic blood pressure increased from 120/75 mm Hg (pre-cycle) to 148/84 mm Hg.

With RAD 140 being the more potent SARM, we typically see it cause larger fluctuations in cholesterol.

One user’s blood pressure rose from 110/60 mm Hg to 155/98 mm Hg after taking 20 mg/day of RAD 140. He also experienced numbness and pain in his chest region.

Thus, it is not advised to take ostarine or RAD 140 if a person is experiencing hypertension, as both of these compounds will increase the risk of myocardial infarction.

Research also indicates that the dose of RAD 140, or ostarine, can determine how elevated a user’s blood pressure will be (2).

Liver Toxicity

From our patient’s LFTs (liver function tests), it is clear that SARMs are hepatotoxic and will raise ALT/AST values.

A 49-year-old man was diagnosed with hepatocellular-cholestatic liver injury after taking RAD 140 for just 4 weeks (3), with sporadic use afterward. He had also been taking an antidepressant (venlafaxine) for 11 months prior to his RAD 140 cycle.

Thus, it is advised that antidepressants or other hepatotoxic supplements or medications should not be combined with SARMs.

A man also experienced cholestatic injury after just 3 weeks on ostarine (4). He suffered from jaundice but recovered 3 months after cycle cessation.

Those who decide to take RAD 140 or ostarine should supplement with TUDCA at 500 mg/day and monitor their liver enzymes throughout their cycle.

Alcohol should also be strictly avoided to minimize hepatic stress.

Results Comparison

Although RAD 140 is the stronger SARM, we have seen ostarine transformations be just as effective due to users adopting a calorie-deficit diet (and thus burning more fat).

When users are simultaneously burning fat via their diet and taking ostarine for several weeks, muscle definition becomes significantly enhanced, vascularity becomes more prominent, and abdominals become more visible.

In contrast, RAD 140 users are less likely to prioritize fat loss via their diet, opting instead for higher calories to encourage anabolism.

RAD 140

The above user took a low dosage of 10 mg/day of RAD 140 for 8 weeks. Despite eating a small calorie surplus, his body fat has decreased notably. He has also experienced improvements in muscle hypertrophy, gaining approximately 10 pounds on the scales.

If he had increased his dosage to 20 mg/day, he would have experienced enhanced muscle gains and fat loss. 10 mg/day is a dose more suitable for women. Side effects will be less severe with a lower dosage.

Ostarine

• The above user cycled ostarine for 45 days at 20 mg/day.
• He lost 7 pounds on the scales but has simultaneously gained a notable amount of lean muscle (particularly in the deltoids and arms).

Dosages

Men typically take 10–20 mg/day of ostarine, with women taking 5–10 mg/day. The upper range of these dosages is more common.

The dosages of RAD 140 are identical to those of ostarine, indicating that RAD 140 is a more potent SARM per milligram.

Price Difference

• Ostarine: $49.99 (25 mg/mL–30 mL)
• RAD 140: $59.99 (15 mg/mL–30 mL)

The above prices have been taken from Sports Technology Labs.

RAD 140 is considerably more expensive than ostarine per mg. If RAD 140 came in the same mg values per ml as ostarine (above), it would cost just under $100 (at 25 mg/ml), compared to ostarine’s $50.

Conclusion

In terms of benefits, we have found RAD 140 to be more beneficial than ostarine. However, in terms of safety and severity of side effects, ostarine is the milder compound.

Thus, ostarine is more commonly cycled by beginners.

Ostarine and RAD 140 both possess the same effects in regard to improving body composition, but because RAD 140 is more anabolic, it is perceived as a more suitable bulking compound.

It is also worth noting that RAD 140 is approximately double the price of ostarine.

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